discovered this substance, it appeared to have no use; it was in its
infancy and useless state, but having grown up to maturity, witness
its powers, and see what endeavours to make it useful have done.'

Footnote to Chapter 3

[1] I am indebted to a friend for the following exquisite morsel:--
'A short time after the publication of Faraday's first researches in
magneto-electricity, he attended the meeting of the British
Association at Oxford, in 1832. On this occasion he was requested
by some of the authorities to repeat the celebrated experiment of
eliciting a spark from a magnet, employing for this purpose the
large magnet in the Ashmolean Museum. To this he consented, and a
large party assembled to witness the experiments, which, I need not
say, were perfectly successful. Whilst he was repeating them a
dignitary of the University entered the room, and addressing himself
to Professor Daniell, who was standing near Faraday, inquired what
was going on. The Professor explained to him as popularly as
possible this striking result of Faraday's great discovery.
The Dean listened with attention and looked earnestly at the brilliant
spark, but a moment after he assumed a serious countenance and shook
his head; "I am sorry for it," said he, as he walked away; in the
middle of the room he stopped for a moment and repeated, "I am sorry
for it:" then walking towards the door, when the handle was in his
hand he turned round and said, "Indeed I am sorry for it; it is
putting new arms into the hands of the incendiary." This occurred a
short time after the papers had been filled with the doings of the
hayrick burners. An erroneous statement of what fell from the
Dean's mouth was printed at the time in one of the Oxford papers.
He is there wrongly stated to have said, "It is putting new arms